James Bay On Leaping Into Fatherhood, New Music, John Mayer And More

James Bay simply launched his third album, Leap, this previous Friday (July 8). Like Bay’s earlier two efforts, the very good assortment is a showcase for Bay’s present for intimate and private songwriting, particularly on songs like “One Life” and “Higher.”

However as Bay advised me after we met in particular person for an in-depth earlier than his current L.A. present on the Resort Cafe , Leap is one other step in his musical evolution in the direction of his eventual purpose, being a guitar hero. “All of us wanna be Stevie Ray Vaughan,” he says.

At 31 years outdated, Bay continues to be discovering his musical voice. And now a proud dad, he explains he has a brand new confidence and new perspective. I spoke with Bay at size about fatherhood, the brand new album, the affect each John Mayer and Eric Clapton have had on him.

Steve Baltin: How have you ever been?

James Bay: I have been good. I have been busy. Music is clearly on the best way. And I’ve made extra music. I’ve made a great deal of music and a child.

Baltin: Congratulations. How outdated?

Bay: Thanks, man. We have got a bit child known as Ada who’s eight months outdated. It is the best most euphoric great and terrifying factor having a child. As anyone who’s finished it, I am certain would agree. Me, I am like totes emotional. So leaving is terrible. Being away is terrible, however I’ve one of the best job on this planet. So it is the craziest catch 22. And I’ve simply gotta put up with it. If that is the form of the draw back to my life, then I am gonna form of work that out. And I might like to carry them on tour in the future. That is a plan however that is, we’re not fairly there.

Baltin: Was most of this document finished earlier than or after she was born?

Bay: So it was all finished earlier than she was born. Among the songs had been written whereas we knew she was on the best way. However I’ve to say in full honesty, there is not like a handful of songs on this document which are like, “Oh my God, I am unable to consider I am gonna be a dad.” I have not written these songs. I’d write songs about parenthood. I’ve written a great deal of songs since I’ve completed the album. However I have not dived deep into that element.

Baltin: Even once you take a look at a track like “One Life” and also you take a look at how intimate that’s it is humorous as a result of even when consciously it wasn’t about being a dad…

Bay: Proper, it applies. And I am into that, I suppose if it seems as soon as I end the track, ‘trigger that is by no means intentional. If there’s an open ended-ness to some deep a part of it that may apply, then that is form of one of many magic substances I feel in any songs. “Lean on Me” may be hooked up to many various circumstances. That is why it is one of many explanation why it is such a traditional. So “One Life” is an efficient instance of a track that actually resonates with the a part of me that has created a brand new life, in addition to the a part of me that wrote it as a celebration of my long-term relationship.

Baltin: I used to be speaking with Graham Nash about “Our Home” and Darryl Corridor about “Sara Smile.” And “One Life” has that very same really feel of these songs which are written in, for such a particular factor. However after all what makes it an anthem is a track that turns into timeless and common and appeals to everybody. Good writing is unconscious. So I am certain once you return and listen to these items on this album, even when you do not suppose the songs are about being a dad you hear that seep into the songs.

Bay: I respect you together with my track in these two legendary songs all in the identical sentence. “Our Home” significantly is simply such a wow track. To what you are saying there, there is a track on this album the final observe on the album is known as “Higher.” It is a bit finger-picked track and it is one in every of a small handful of songs on the album, greater than a small handful. It is one in every of a handful of songs on the album that actually do converse to and are impressed by my relationship that I have been in for thus lengthy with Lucy. However to your level, the refrain lyric is ” Every part’s higher as quickly as you are subsequent to me.” After which I can say the remainder of lyrics and the refrain as properly, however actually these strains, these two strains form of hit the nail on the pinnacle. And to the purpose that as a father now, means after I might written that track. I take into consideration the lyric. Every part’s higher as quickly as you are subsequent to me. And it makes me yearn to go house to my child.As a result of the whole lot’s higher once I’ve bought her in my fingers in my arms. So it applies and that is one thing I like about songs when it occurs.

Baltin: Nick Cave was the one that defined this finest to me. And he, he mentioned, you are all the time writing what it’s you are craving for as an artist. So when you’re comfortable, you are writing unhappy songs. If you happen to’re unhappy, you are writing comfortable songs. I am certain it is one thing that now you look again on and you may respect it now being a father, as a result of it is nonetheless prophetic in a means, although you did not know what it was about.

Bay: Appropriate. And it is very nice the best way that Nick Cave’s put that as a result of I’ve this expertise on a regular basis. And I speak about it a bit bit extra clearly than ever now, the experiences that I write these songs, and I feel I do know what I am writing about within the second. So I comply with that and I all the time discover out later after which later once more, all the opposite issues they’re about, I discover out in larger element what they’re about in hindsight. And I do know for sure that a lot of this album, even all the way down to the title of the album, there are songs about happiness, hope and pleasure written from a tragic place or in a tragic time. I am making an attempt to speak a bit bit extra and I’ve struggled to speak about this and I am not good at it but, however my dips into form of insecurity, unhappiness, anxiousness, emotional form of turmoil. They occur. I’ve had them earlier than. And I had fairly an intense model of that by form of 2019 and early 2020 near earlier than I went to start out recording this album. I used to be nonetheless writing and I used to be making an attempt to work by these emotions. And people issues come they usually go and I wrote these songs for this album to assist work by that. And in some methods I feel it did assist me. However in different methods I can perceive and settle for greater than ever that point is tacky and form of cliche line. However time can be a healer and also you simply need to maintain getting up the following day daily and going to mattress and getting up once more. And that actually helped me. And I solely know that now in hindsight, and that every one of that feeds into how I named the album Leap. I found this nice line by a man known as John Burroughs that the road was, “Leap and the web will seem.” And it is ruminating on the idea of taking a leap of religion, which I’ve discovered. And this actually helps me form of maintain my chin up. I have been doing this for practically 10 years now in a form of some form of no matter skilled capability and daily I take the identical form of leap of religion that it took once I began out.

Baltin: In order that line nonetheless applies to your work after a decade?

Bay: I want to use the idea of taking a leap of religion each single day to my work the place I bought it a bit improper. I feel sooner or later in current occasions I assumed that ultimately the form of tough sea would clean out and it will be a bit bit extra plain crusing. And I might simply know what I used to be doing and do it as an artist. No, that does not actually occur. And it is for the higher that it does not.

Baltin: Do you get extra snug although, as you have gotten older with the very fact these waters will all the time be turbulent trigger that’s the nature of being an artist?

Bay: If you happen to’re nervous, you care. I did the James Corden present final night time and he was quoting some nice David Bowie saying it’s a must to get to that time the place you are not fairly drowning. You have simply bought your like nostril above water. And that is the place good creativity occurs. The method of making an attempt to unlearn is so essential. I used to be speaking with my supervisor about this, and in any moments once I really feel form of caught in my writing, it is in these moments that I want I knew much less. Since you get so snug with the issues that you just discovered, primarily the strategies that may be discovered inside songwriting they usually f**ok with the method in a not great way. For me, significantly making an attempt to be a legit, credible artist, one in every of my primary approaches to conquering that was placing the guitar down, not fully, simply so far as beginning writing songs. I went to the piano that I do not play very properly, and that was the purpose. I do not know what I am doing with my fingers, the place I am going, I do not know what the results of my strikes are, so I stumble and within the stumbling, you unearth thrilling, new territory. On the guitar, I’ve bought so many strikes, which are so acquainted that the whole lot stagnates, so it is a tough place to be. One of many causes that Keith Richards reigns because the king is that not solely is he in the end a bit bit extra rudimentary in his enjoying however he took a string off, he is not even utilizing six strings. The underside, he modified the G and takes the underside D off, he does not even want it, he does not need it, he is too busy, simplicity is essential and king.

Baltin: What number of songs of this document began on piano?

Bay: Nice query, and there is a solution to it, I’ve simply not considered what that’s. Observe one, as a result of I knew like 4 chords had been very acquainted to me on a guitar, so I needed to put them underneath my fingers on a piano to simply f**ok with the method a bit. So “Give Me The Motive” was, “Nowhere Left To Go.” “We Used To Shine,” “Higher” with piano. Perhaps like 5, 4 or 5, could possibly be greater than that. I am gonna say 4 or 5, which is spherical about two thirds.

Baltin: Did the songs really feel totally different to you as a result of they had been began otherwise?

Bay: Yeah, they do. And it makes me take into consideration a track known as “Proper Now” on this album. That track needed to be written quick, I spent a day with LC Juba, he is good, and we wrote the track for many of that day that I am unable to even bear in mind now the way it goes, and we lastly form of, I would not say gave up on it, however we had been lastly form of finished with it, having labored the purpose of this no matter track was for six hours out of eight hours of the day. After which within the final hour or two, she needed to go, and that meant I used to be gonna depart as properly, there was a bit little bit of throwaway time to possibly, “What will we do? Ought to we strive one thing else?” And the primary melody for that track got here up fast, and we favored it sufficient and I favored it sufficient, I wished to get a refrain and attempt to end the track. So we needed to transfer quick, so time or the shortage thereof, was this type of thrilling, crunchy-like impediment that we needed to attempt to work with. It was the disruptive factor, and that factor is so essential to what’s in any other case in all probability fairly a straight ahead course of ‘trigger you do not need it to be these issues, you want some disruption.

Baltin: Was there disruption that you just took throughout this time that you just need to use in making music going ahead?

Bay: It is totally different for me, I’ve discovered extra about form of placing my foot down, going ahead and taking extra time within the studio. So far as the writing, I feel if there’s disruption I need to use and take ahead, it is saying f**ok you to what we might often do. It is saying no to writing within the route of what is perhaps anticipated. That is truly fairly a private disruption that I need to form of use and brandish. So I have been far more well mannered prior to now, in my capability as a author.

Baltin: As you become older, you get extra snug and extra assured in your self. And that is one thing that it additionally takes the time of attending to the purpose.

Bay: Fatherhood has given me a bit little bit of that braveness. I am writing subsequently with extra of what I like in thoughts, and fewer like “What’s going to they consider this?” I’ve all the time written with a little bit of that in thoughts. And I do not just like the diploma to which I’ve finished it in current occasions. That is not a slant and a or a slight on my music. I like the music I’ve made, however come and see me reside. And you may expertise two or three guitar solos which have by no means been on the data. Perhaps I am gonna throw a few of these guitar solos on the document. Now, possibly it is time to f**king do this. As a result of I like enjoying a guitar solo.

Baltin: Are there those who over time you have actually regarded to for the best way that they have been capable of evolve? One particular person I feel is similar to you is John Mayer.

Bay: He is incredible. I really feel like I discovered as a fan of his and as a 15-year-old on the time when Continuum got here out, enrolling form of within the college of John Mayer. I began to acknowledge the smarts concerned in generally main with “Your Physique is a Wonderland,” however going out reside and being a blazing guitar participant. Once I speak in regards to the college with John Mayer, there’s loads of children rising up, loving blues music, desirous to play guitar solos of their bed room after which desirous to form of go on to huge phases. This was me. I wished to love get on the market and play in entrance of big crowds. And you may’t simply do this with the guitar solo, as a result of that crowd with all respect to them, that is my individuals, however it’s restricted. There’s extra individuals on this planet who love a ravishing, good refrain in a track, and the lyric and a melody, then there are guitar solo lovers. That is okay. John Mayer is a incredible instance. And so was Eric Clapton in the end by Cream, Derek and the Dominoes extra importantly. After which I am gonna truly leap to love ’80s Clapton, Journeyman, after which I am going to go to, 1992 with “Tears in Heaven.” However the huge 4 moments can be Cream, “Layla,” Journeyman, ’80s, after which “Tears in Heaven.” He is a bed room guitar solo participant, however he understood what else wanted to be finished. John Mayer understood what else wanted to be finished. All of us wanna be Stevie Ray Vaughan and do not get me improper. [laughter] simply, blazing guitar solos all night time, however we’re all distinctive as properly. And so once I speak about that college of Mayer and Clapton, it is a college that teaches the multidimensional method which you could take. You may nonetheless apply your guitar solo ardour to pop songwriting and all of that stuff. So yeah, I am evolving, I am rising, I really feel like I am on the very starting of my profession, I actually do. And the pandemic has put that into perspective, fatherhood has too, however the pandemic actually has. So it is like essential for me now to form of stretch my guitar enjoying legs and limbs, together with my songwriting and progress issues and evolve once more, which I have not finished a lot from this album, however I now know that I’ll.

Baltin: What makes Mayer totally different to you?

Bay: I gotta say, Mayer, it has been like no radio for nonetheless lengthy, and nonetheless arenas, that’s admirable. I feel, me and loads of different artists would love to attain that. I feel as an adolescent discovering his music, I used to be proven that one factor could possibly be finished, which was you possibly can be a guitar participant, who did pop songs and pop music. So yeah, he is main the best way, or shining a lightweight on chance.

Baltin: After which he goes out and performs with the Lifeless. In order that’s a enjoyable query. Who can be the one band that you’d love to sit down in with frequently?

Bay: Are you able to sit in with the historical past bands? Stones. I like the historical past bands, the Stones all day lengthy. I used to be opening for the Stones in 2018, and I bought out to do “Beast of Burden.” It was unbelievable. And the expertise was unbelievable, the following day, I used to be strolling down the road close to my home, and I bought a textual content from an unknown quantity. It mentioned, “Thanks a lot. I had a great deal of enjoyable final night time.” It’s extremely uncommon that I get a textual content from Mick Jagger after all, however that is a pinch myself second in itself, as a result of they’re simply the best.

Baltin: Taking this album to the stage, what are you most excited to do reside?

Bay: I do not know what you name ’em however like additional bits. I am going to play the songs however I am going to embellish. It is simply a lot extra reside to do this. And it is how I grew up. We used to do this. We used to play ’em however we additionally used to do like a four-minute half on the top or like prolonged center bit prolonged bridge, prolonged begin over within the center, and like stuff with the group. You are able to do enjoyable stuff. So I am bringing it to the stage. The jams, man. There’s gonna be an entire bunch ‘trigger I f**king reside and die for that s**t. I all the time have.